Rockets’ Lin focused on wins, not fourth-quarter minutes

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In recent games, Jeremy Lin has become a spectator in the fourth quarter. (Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)

After spending another fourth quarter on the bench, Rockets guard Jeremy Lin said he understood Rockets coach Kevin McHale sticking with Patrick Beverley at point guard, even if watching in close games is still not easy.

“Every player understands it’s just a matter of riding the hot hand,” Lin said. “For me, or any athlete it’s just a matter of not getting too high or too low. I feel like in the time I’m out there, I’m playing my brand of basketball. I’m happy about that. Whatever time I get, I have to keep playing the way I play. At this point, we’re making this playoff push. We’re really trying to get these wins.

“It’s hard for any athlete to sit there when it matters. It’s not about individual egos right now. Obviously, everyone wants to be out there. One through 15 everybody wants to be out there, but that’s just not the way it works sometimes. It’s just buying into the team. We really are a team, we enjoy being around each other. That makes it easy to sacrifice for each other.”

Lin has not played in the fourth quarter of the Rockets’ past three games, sitting out late in close games against the Magic and Mavericks and in the home rout against the Mavericks. Rockets center Omer Asik also sat out the fourth quarter against the Mavericks, but also said he was unconcerned with his own playing time.

“I really don’t care too much because the coach knows what is best for the team,” Asik said. “Of course it’s hard for me, but I just want to win. We came back. We were down like 10 and were in it to the end of the game.”

Harden finds line while looking for shot

In the six games since James Harden hit the Oklahoma City Thunder for a career-high 46 points, he has made 42 percent of his shots and 29.5 percent of his 3-pointers. With his shot not falling against the Mavericks (5 of 17) on Wednesday, he was able to penetrate regularly enough to go from 17 for 17 from the line, but said he was not looking to draw fouls any more than usual.

“I’m just trying to be aggressive, do what I do every single game,” Harden said. “I get (free throws) or not. Shots aren’t falling. You’re going to have some stretches the shots aren’t falling and some stretches when you get hot. It’s just a matter of staying in the gym during practice times and working on my craft.”

Friday night: Rockets vs. Warriors

When/where: 9:30 p.m./Oracle Arena

TV/radio: ESPN, CSN/790-AM, 850-AM (Spanish)

Rockets update: With wins in their first two meetings with the Warriors this season, the Rockets could clinch the head-to-head tie breaker with a win… The Rockets won the rematch of their 140-109 blowout 116-107 last month, but have gone 6-6 since… The Rockets are fourth in the NBA in scoring per possession, averaging 107.6 points per 100 possessions, but rank 24th in points allowed per possession largely because of poor transition defense… In his past five games, James Harden has made just 40.7 percent of his shots, 29.7 percent of his 3-pointers.

Warriors update: After losing all four games of a road trip, the Warriors returned home to beat the Raptors and Kings at Oracle Arena… The Warriors are 20-7 at home and play 13 of their remaining 19 games at home… Guard Stephen Curry had 54 points in New York last week and is second in the NBA in 3-point percentage… All Star David Lee leads the NBA with 41 double-doubles and is the only player averaging at least 18 points, 11 rebounds and three assists per game… Jarrett Jack has averaged 21 points off the bench against the Rockets this season.